Julian Marley loses Daughter Merry Jane had the chance to speak with Julian – cannabis advocate and entrepreneur about his upcoming “As I Am” West Coast tour, kicking off August 16th. Merry Jane: It’s been ten years since your last album release. What did it take to begin producing music again, and what inspiration is behind “As I Am”? Julian Marley: The inspiration for the music always comes from JAH, Love - and inspiration from the musical styles like, Indian, Jazz, Blues and Funk. I started recording the album in Jamaica two and a half years ago, and finished it between Miami and the U.K. The name of the album came from, well … I [do not] know how to describe it, so it just is, as I am. And the music that we play represents uplifting the people, healthy living, JAH, spirituality and the herb. For me Reggae represents, wellness, organic foods, purity and healing. Our people have been advocating for this message for over 60 years through Reggae music. Merry Jane: Your album was released in January 2018, and despite rising to #3 on the Billboard Charts, you postponed some parts of your tour due to family illness. Julian: This year has been a very hard year for me. I don’t want to go too deep into anything, but a couple of months ago I suffered the loss of a young family member to cancer. Forty years [ago] was the last time we experienced this, and that was my father. [Editor’s Note: Bob Marley died in 1981 from acral lentiginous melanoma, a form of skin spreading from under a nail of his toe.] Merry Jane: Can you elaborate? Julian: It’s not about me, it's not a selfish music, it’s a giving music. Right now there is a missing consciousness in the world, and we are trying to bring this awareness. Awareness that life is very important, and love is very important. There is a “system” out there with two parts. The good finds cure and helps people, and does great for humanity, and the bad spends money on bombs, guns, false cures and vanity that destroys the earth. We need to make the people aware (first of all) … all the healing that we need comes from Mother Earth. So, we just want to make the people respect Mother Earth, and for me, the tour is necessary, because I need to bring messages of unity and love more than ever now. Spreading the Rastafari message is the mission. We see a lot of moral chaos on earth--more than ever before. Being a spiritual person, it shows me that we are living in the revelation-Armageddon times. So, this is the message the Rastas bring, the great Reggae artists before us, had the same message, but we find a different way to say it now. New generations are born and they need the message too. Me personally, my music is especially geared for social awareness, and for the people, to bring the people together. Merry Jane: So, this is not just a musical tour in the traditional form, it’s a mission for humanity as well? Julian: Going through this was very hard. My experience has me fully motivated and inspired, and I must come out now, educate, be with the fans, and be the humanitarian artist that is awake. So now is the time to be with the music, and feed the people with the Rastafari message of unity … love. There is an urgency to come together now. Merry Jane: How does this “system” you describe challenge or test humanity? Julian: The system is dread. The system is a bloodsucker. We spend billions to kill and hardly anything to secure life, or even find cures, and that's wrong. These are the things I was fighting against. [The things] I still fight against. We were not able to get easy access to the real cure, because there is not enough information, research [or] education right now to make an impact on society. Spend your money on research and health, instead of destruction. This is the time for awareness. Medical cannabis is one of the best blessings we have received on this earth. Millions of people suffer, and don't know their rights, or do not speak up for their rights. It is wise to educate yourself or you will suffer. Merry Jane: What should people know about medical cannabis therapy for cancer from your experiences? Julian: We didn’t get much advice from the conventional medical standpoint. We searched everywhere. Eventually we found some education and hope in marijuana, but was late. There is not enough funding and support from those who should be supporting. It is a disgrace that we cannot research nature, and help ourselves. That is what we need to be looking at, and not synthetic chemicals. Merry Jane: And for you, what does all of this look like going forward? Julian: Keep touring, you know, travel the world with this message we have and empower the fight to stop building more guns and bombs. Spend a quarter of that money to fund and find a natural cure for cancer. I want people to love more, and live naturally. Free the herb so people understand it is a spiritual plant. It is my lifelong mission to share healing with the people. We need more research for children with cancer, and we must empower and educate the people to know their rights. I want the people to become consciously aware and awake to what is really happening now. The people need to speak up for themselves so you must not only be aware, but also speak up for your rights, no matter where you are. Merry Jane: Any final thoughts for your fans right now? Julian: What my forefathers have been saying since the ‘60s. “The herb is the healing of a nation.” And much love to the fans … and I hope to see you at the shows! Come experience the music, and this movement with us, the people need healing. It’ll have been 40 years since our family has experienced a loss like this, and it has changed my life. So we are inviting you to come, to make the people aware with us, and spread this message of love and compassion to the world.